P17 billion allotted in 2025 budget for soldiers’ monthly allowance

MANILA, Philippines — The Congress-approved 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) that has yet to be signed into law by President Marcos has earmarked P17 billion for the P10,500 total monthly subsistence allowance of soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“Both the House and the Senate, largely through the efforts of Speaker Martin Romualdez, have agreed to provide a 133-percent increase in the daily subsistence allowance for our soldiers – from P150 to P350 – to further improve their welfare,” House Minority Leader and 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan said.

“The allowance is now equal to P10,500 monthly,” he added.

The opposition lawmaker made the disclosure in relation to the 89th founding anniversary of the 165,000-strong AFP last Saturday.

“We are aggressively investing in the well-being of our soldiers, who are at the core of our national defense, even as we spend an average of P30 billion every year to upgrade the military’s hardware and systems under the revised AFP modernization program,” Libanan said.

He served in the bicameral conference committee that reconciled the House and Senate versions of the GAB.

The bill, however, is still awaiting the President’s signature as he plans to restore the P10-billion cut that the Department of Education suffered.

The AFP has a total of 165,423 military personnel: 114,576 in the Philippine Army; 27,930 in the Philippine Navy (including the Philippine Marines) and 22,917 in the Philippine Air Force, according to figures from the staffing summary in the 2025 National Expenditure Program.

In addition to the subsistence allowance, which is primarily intended for food/meal expenses, military personnel also receive common allowances for economic relief, clothing/uniforms, laundry, quarters and other stipends as part of their remuneration.

The military’s “common-to-all” compensation package also includes longevity pay, midyear bonuses, yearend bonuses, cash gifts, productivity enhancement incentives and performance-based bonuses.

Certain groups of soldiers receive additional compensation, such as hazardous/hazard duty pay, hardship allowances and combat duty pay, among other rewards.

Early this month, Romualdez reassured the AFP leadership of the government’s commitment to give its financial support, which includes the proposed P350 daily allowance for soldiers.

“Our soldiers are the backbone of our nation’s security and defense. We must ensure they have the resources they need to serve with honor and dedication,” he said, despite calls from former president Rodrigo Duterte for the AFP to stage a coup.

On Dec. 2, a delegation of 17 top-ranking AFP generals paid a courtesy call on the Speaker, as referred by Camiguin Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo. During the gathering, generals and senior flag officers discussed key priorities and challenges faced by the military.

Duterte called on the military to “correct” the current situation of the Marcos administration, shortly after his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte – Marcos’ constitutional successor – threatened to have the President killed if she would be assassinated.

In his address, Romualdez emphasized the importance of providing the AFP adequate resources to safeguard national security and maintain peace and order, both internally and externally, especially in light of repeated intrusions of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea.